An Investigation of Cooperative Learning Strategies in Improving Students' Comprehension Skills in the Context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to enhance the reading comprehension abilities of EFL students by implementing cooperative learning strategies. The study aimed to address the following primary research question: What is the influence of cooperative learning on enhancing the reading comprehension skills of EFL students? The study included a total of 70 students from the first and second levels of the Department of English and Literature at the Ar Rass campus of Qassim University in Saudi Arabia. We conducted the study over a three-week period in two classes: the control group consisted of 35 female students (N = 35), while the experimental group also included 35 female students (N = 35). The experimental group received instruction through cooperative learning strategies, whereas the control group received instruction through a standard teacher-centered strategy. To address the fact-finding investigation of the study, we employed a pre- and post-test tool to assess reading comprehension skills. This test specifically aimed to identify the levels of literal and inferential comprehension. We employed the t-test to determine the statistical divergence between the average scores of the two groups. This study demonstrated the beneficial influence of cooperative learning approaches on the enhancement of reading comprehension skills among first- and second-level students in the Department of English and Literature. We strongly recommend cooperative learning practices to improve the reading skills of EFL learners.